Iran has been negotiating with over 30 companies from nine European countries in recent years for carrying out energy projects in the country despite mounting global economic sanctions and political pressures.
The companies include: Swiss EGL; Norwegian Statoil, Norsk Hydro, Sintef, and DNV; Russian Gazprom; Turkish ASB and Botas; French IFP, Axens, and Air Liquid; Italian ENI, Technimont, and Edison; German E.ON; and Spainish Repsol and Dragados. Contracts have been concluded with some of these companies.
The Mehr News Agency has provided some details about the signed contracts.
Switzerland:
Swiss energy group EGL signed a 25-year gas purchase deal worth over $13 billion with Iran last year. According to the contract Iran should annually deliver 5.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas to EGL Company.
Norway:
Iran and Norway's Statoil, Norsk Hydro, and Sintef companies have signed a contract for performing feasibility studies for launching a Gas to Liquids (GTL) factory.
National Iranian Offshore Oil Company and Norway's DNV Company have also inked a contract for launching an occupational, health, and safety advisory service.
France:
IFP Company is the license holder of ammoniac producing unit technology in the Bou-Ali and Nouri petrochemical complexes.
Axen Company is the license holder of Assaluyeh 12th olefin producing unit.
Air Liquid, GE, and RT companies also are working in cooperation with National Petrochemical Company.
Spain:
National Iranian Gas Company has inked a contract with Dragados Company for construction of Bidboland refinery.
Turkey:
Turkish company ABS has signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran for financing South Pars phases 17 and 18 development plans.
Austria:
Austria's biggest energy company OMV is leading a consortium planning to build the Nabucco pipeline to carry gas from Turkey to Austria through Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary by 2013. Iran has touted its gas as essential to the project, but the US has opposed Iran's participation.
OMV signed an MOU for participation at South Pars in 2007 and was also involved in exploration at the Mehr oilfield, but both deals have stalled.
Italy:
Italy's oil and gas group Eni is leading the $1 billion second phase development of the Darkhovin oilfield development to take output to 160,000 bpd from 50,000 bpd. Italian power utility Edison and NIOC signed a $107 million exploration contract in January 2008 for the Gulf Dayyer offshore block.